Festival celebrates Jefferson Street as music mecca

The 14th annual Jefferson Street Jazz and Blues Festival is from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at Bicentennial Mall State Park’s amphitheater, with R&B great Denise LaSalle headlining.

Other performers include Karlton Taylor Trio, Denny Giosa, Soul Sisters, Tyrone Dickerson and U Turn, Hershel Bailey and Mike Hicks and the Funkpuncs. Plus, there is a Children’s Pavilion from noon to 3 p.m. with games and activities and youth music groups.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate for the whole day of music, which celebrates nearby Jefferson Street history as a music mecca.

Jefferson Street was one of America’s best-known districts of jazz, blues and rhythm & blues from the 1940s through the early 1960s, with famous musicians including Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Fats Domino and Memphis Slim performing in the many clubs there.